Fifth Anniversary of the German-Croatian Chamber of Industry and Commerce

The German-Croatian Chamber of Industry and Commerce held its regular assembly this evening in the congress hall of the Antunović hotel in Zagreb, while also celebrating its first five years of existence.

Ralf Blomberg, CEO of the Plomin thermal power plant, took over the two-year mandate at the helm of the chamber from the previous president, Uwe Gregorius, CEO of Siemens d.d. After being elected, the new president addressed the members and guests, around two hundred of whom filled the Tomislav congress hall to capacity.

– I thank the members for entrusting me with a two-year mandate over the chamber. I promise to continue and further encourage bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Germany. So far, we have had excellent results, and this management, with me at the helm, will improve the already good cooperation at all levels – said Blomberg.

The German-Croatian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DKIHK) is part of a global network that includes 120 foreign trade chambers and delegations from 80 countries worldwide. Since its establishment, DKIHK in Croatia has over 260 members, among which are many reputable German companies operating in Croatia and Croatian companies with business ties in Germany. The primary task of the chamber is to promote economic relations between Germany and Croatia, organize and conduct various lectures, seminars, congresses, mediate in the exchange of information between various Croatian and German companies, as well as many other diverse activities.

The ceremony was also attended by the envoy of the Deputy Prime Minister Damir Polančec, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy, Labor and Entrepreneurship, Tamara Obradović Mazul, who emphasized the importance of the partnership between the Croatian and German economies, especially in the tourism sector.

– German tourists are already traditionally the most numerous guests in Croatia, and this year about one and a half million of them came to the Croatian coast. It is also important to note that Germany has participated with more than 2.5 billion euros in direct investments in the Croatian economy since 1993, and Croatia, among other things, can offer German entrepreneurs 19 companies from the tourism sector that are ready for privatization – said Mazul.

The ceremony and the electoral assembly were also attended by numerous officials, as well as members of the professional public, including the Deputy Mayor of Zagreb Ivo Jelušić, the director of Zagreb Airport Boško Matković, and economic expert Mladen Vedriš. (Siniša Maksimović)